Discussions By Condition: I cannot get a diagnosis.

no tears when I cry....eye pain

Hi. This has been going on for about a year..i don't cry all that much so at first I just ignored it: When I cry my eyes get a bit wet but I have no tears rolling down my cheek....but what sent me scurrying here is that I have AWFUL pain around my eye when I "cry"...it sometimes almost feels like someone is sticking a pin in my eye...what is going on? Any clues? Joan

1 Replies:

Well, one thing we need to do here is have you undergo a Schirmer test to measure the level of tears capable of being produced. Realize that watery eyes, or what you may think to be limited tear activity, can actually arise in the presence of dry eyes, which can also produce pain and discomfort. Certain medications and prescriptions such as birth control can cause dry eyes and if you wear contact lens, it can exacerbate the problem. Even circumstances such as blepharoplasty can result in poor lid closure and subsequent dry eye syndrome. There are also certain disorders where dry eyes represent underlying causes, but there are other symptoms that are also described by the patient and absent from your complaint so no cause for worry at this point. Also understand that tears are actually composed of multiple layers, each being produced at a separate location of the eye region, so a number of factors may be related to the cause. Most cases, however, are uncomplicated and merely require symptomatic treatment. My suggestion is to obtain evaluation from an opthomologist to undergo a Schirmer test. Once the condition has been evaluated, appropriate treatment can be prescribed. Best regards, J Cottle, MD